Revive (Book Two)

Chapter 6: Warning

The leaves on the ground weren't crunchy at dawn as the moisture by the creek was rising, awaiting for rainfall. I stumbled through the forest with Vince trailing slowly beside me.

"Fucking hell, Eli, how far did you put the guy?" He complained, swatting away the few bugs that flew around his face.

I glanced at him. "Till I could no longer hear him scream, then double that," I muttered. I had only been here nearly seven hours ago, but I didn't sleep even for a minute in between. Each time I closed my eyes, all I could picture was his panic, followed by his family wondering where he went. The odd time I forgot about him for even a second, my PTSD spiked up and I had vivid images of my father with his belt.

I shuddered.

"Well fuck," He said astonished. "I forgot how thorough you were," He mumbled while following me around the thick forest.

"And that's why you're a nobody, Vince," I said with simplicity. Nothing but a pain in my ass.

"Then why did you bring me?" He challenged.
He was beginning to annoy me, which had me wondering how much he'd forgotten about my character when provoked.

"To clean up potential mess. We keep you around to do the bitch work. It's the only thing you can do to avoid cleaning up after your mistakes."

We only kept him around because he liked to terrorize people - not because he was good for anything else. He was a constant fuck up and a big headache.

"Hey fuck you," He spoke up and tried matching my stride. I was taller than him, but he attempted to look big.

I eyed him from my peripherals. "You gonna do something, tough guy?" I commented, then turned away from his ugly face to look toward the trees.

He sped up and knocked his shoulder into me, which had me turn around so quick to grab his throat, he didn't even have a chance to react. He stared into my eyes as I squeezed my fingers on his neck, making him cough.

"Let-let me go," He choked out. He raised his hands in surrender and I dropped my hand away from him. He coughed out and immediately clutched his throat.

"That was a warning," I growled. "Keep your fucking impulses under control or I'll do the exact same to you as I did to this poor son of a bitch. But I'll make sure to keep you out here for the animals to gnaw on your flesh."

He frowned, but kept his big mouth shut for only a moment. He knew how much I meant it. I was on a streak at this point, I could easily take him out too if I needed to. I never liked Vince.

"You gonna stay back, then?" He asked while rubbing a hand on his neck to soothe the pain. "With us, I mean. Not gonna take off again?" His throat cleared.

I shook my head but stayed quiet. I knew he was fishing for something, and I knew the quieter I was, the more he'd spill.

"Kill or get killed, am I right?" He spoke. "That's what happened to Darius. Nash was done with him the second you came back around. Marcus... Well. With the way you two are going at it, it sure seems like you're better off enemies than partners."

I smirked. "You don't know us well enough then and by now, that's concerning. I try to kill him, he tries to kill me. This is our pattern. We're closer than we've ever been," I lied. I wanted to saw his head off with a dull bread knife and he wanted to shoot a bullet in between my eyes.

In theory, we could get along very well if we submitted to one another. But that'd never happen, and I'd never willingly join this lifestyle again. I had my taste of freedom and I desperately wanted it back. I was disgusted in myself for the things I've been doing.